The merchant was so distressed -- but he did nothing to push his wheel out of the potholes. Instead, he knelt on the ground, looked up to the heaven and wailed. "Why does it have to be my wagon?" He called on Hercules* "Where are you, Hercules? Get my wagon out of the mud!"

It happened that Hercules was on the nearby fields. When he heard his name being called, he went to where the merchant was. "How lucky I am!" the merchant exclaimed. "Since you are the strongest man on earth, Hercules, you can easily push the wheel of my wagon out of the mud and I'll be out of here in no time at all!"

Hercules examined the wheel that was tuck in the mud. He noticed the pothole was not as deep. He turned to the merchant and concluded that the merchant had done nothing to get the wheel out of the pothole.

Hercules said the merchant, "You should be ashamed of yourself. How can you expect others to push your wheel out of the mud when you haven't even tried to push it yourself? Push the wheel yourself , and when you fail to get it out of the mud, then I'd gladly help you!" So saying, Hercules left. The merchant was stunned.